Page 4 of The Quiet Witness

She barreled into him. His surprised grunt edged her on as they slammed into the table in a tangle of limbs. The discarded tumbler crashed to the floor, smashing glass in every direction. Bright blood painted her hands red as she pushed up, scratching herself over the miniscule knives. Kate scrambled over the floor, ignoring the pain with a vengeance, but felt his hands pull her back, tugging her into the warmth of his chest.

“You just… keep messing up my plans, hmm.” His gravelly voice forced her hairs upright.

Biting her lip, she wheeled around, shooting out her elbow against his ribs with a sickening crack. The air whooshed out of his lungs, his confident words forgotten as he clutched a hand over his injured ribs. She didn’t look back, forcing her feet under her and scrambling up.

Glass!

Frantically she shoved the shards away.

Bigger. Bigger. There!

Cold burned against her palm as she closed her fingers over the shard, biting down on the pain. Once again, she felt hands clasping around her ankle, this time twisting her to the floor in one fluid motion. The air burst out of her lungs as she landed on her back, leaving her gasping while he closed in. Their eyes met, he carried no frustration in his. Instead, there was nothing but cool confidence as he bent down to her level.

“You’re making it very challenging for me to end this painlessly.”

“Fuck… you.” she ground out, gathering what little air was left in her lungs.

Blood dripped from her clenched hand as he inched closer, their legs touching. She waited, fighting the instinct telling her to scuffle backwards. That would only be delaying the inevitable. She needed him closer. He leaned over her, hands reaching for her neck.

Choking, his idea of the least painful way to end her.

She drove her blood-red hand up, aiming for his unprotected stomach. But he caught a hold of her wrist and smashed it into the floor. The shard dropped, and he flung it away over his shoulder, so easily leaving her at his mercy. He didn’t seem to doubt his win. Lest for his aching ribs this was nothing but kindergarten for him. Simple playtime.

Those ribs!

Remembering her legs, Kate drew up her knee. She saw his hands begin to come up, but he was too slow. The heel of her foot hit with another sickening crunch. She didn’t wait, turning on her abdomen, arms and feet edging her closer to the front door. She hissed as her arm dragged over the shards, elbow collapsing beneath her. Just a bit more. Come on, Kate!

She pushed up, with every inch of her body protesting the movement. Closer, closer. There it was. The imperfection she’d laid her eyes on a thousand times. The one she’d been unknowingly searching for.

A hole in the door the carpenter’s hands had somehow missed.

Often if her attitude had been off, she’d be told to stand by the door. To cool down… in the literal sense. She’d learned to embrace the cold as it chilled her raw skin for hours. Learned to accept its company. Big enough to peep through, it showed cars racing past. The occasional runner with music pumping in their ears.

Freedom.

Someday it would be hers. It was a promise she’d made herself. It was the reason why for the past few weeks she had been working toward that goal, creeping steadily closer to her exit out of the old life. She was nearly there. But the Gods had other plans.

Without warning, hands looped around her arms, turning her onto her back, dragging her away from her escape right into his arms. She thrashed in his grip, flailing like a wild cat. His answer came as an elbow looping around her throat, leaving her gasping for the tiniest bit of air. Her fingers became claws, desperately trying to break free from the pressure. But his grip was unforgiving. Her legs scratched over the floor. But there was no… no air… no space. No, this isn’t the end. It can’t be.

Seconds ticked by as her flailing limbs were losing strength with every effort she made. Or is it?

Darkness loomed around her consciousness, goading her into the same deep sleep her family now faced for eternity. There was only one thing she could still do. It wouldn’t save her life. But maybe it would make him serve justice. She curled her fingers, raking her nails over his arms, not to create space but to leave a trace behind… of a life lived and stolen.

Kate dug deeper, burying his DNA beneath her fingernails. His chest stiffened against her back, knowing what she was doing. But he would have to let go to stop her. And that, he did not allow.

One last attempt to beat him at his own game.

The last opportunity to twist his plans. A grimace took over her face. There was one promise she’d been able to fulfill. She hadn’t gone down without a fight.

Eyes still hooked to the hole in the door, her vision blurred in and out of view.

Freedom.

A breath tickled her ear. Warm. Too gentle.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

And the world went dark.